PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3124, 15 February 1871, Page 2

PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON.

THIS reverend court met in Willis street Ohurch on Tuesday laßt, 14th mat, at 10 o'clock, a.ra. Sederunt— Bev J. Paterson, Moderator ; the Revs James Duncan, John Moir, John Ross, James Cumming and John Elmslie, Ministers, and Mr John M'Lean, elder. Tbe minuteß of the former meeting having been read and approved of, the Rev. Mr Bimslie was called upon to report the result of his correspondence with the colonial committee ot the Home Church, respecting the aupply of Rangitikei and other diairicta within the bounds of the Preabytory. Mr Elmslie stated that he had tbe fullest assurance from the committee in Edinburgh that the interests of the colony would not be forgotten, and that additional laborers would be sent forth as soon as poaaible. He also gave a very pleasing aocount of the present state of affairs in Rangitikei, showing that a good work was going on at each of the preaching stations — that a handsome new churoh was on the eve of being erected at Marton — and that it waa the intention of the people to build both in the Upper and Middle Rangitikei districts. Mr Elmslie pointed out further the desirability of obtaining the services of one minister for the extensive district lying between Wanganui and Patea. The ftev. Mr Paterson next gave a most interesting report of his recent visits to Wairarapa. He expressed great Bympathy with Mr Ross, whose ministrations require to be extended over so wide a field as to entail very groat labor, both mental and physical. He slated that the congregation there had been rather falling ba.sk in the matter of ministtrial support, not from any lack of respect for their esteemed minister, but partly owing to demands the building committee had been making upon them, and partly from a want of duly appreciating the importance of this matter, but that this shortcoming was biung very heartily and speedily made up. Mr l'a'erson further stated that the settlers in tht* Lower Valley were anxious to have a church erected ac Waihenga, whero they had already procured a site and ten acres of land, and that a wish had also been expressed for the erection of another at Tuhitarata or Otaraia, where very important assistance has been rendered by Mr McMaster and othera. Another meeting had been held, he said, at Waihenga Ferry, where the Hon. Mr Waterhouae waa present, and expresaed a high appreciation of the services of Mr Ross, and headed the list with a handsome subscription, promising his further countenance and support in the good work in which the Presbytery were engaged. The Rev. Mr Moir reported anent the state of affairs at Horokiwi, Pahautanui, Porirua, and the Hutt (tho latter including Belmont and Wainuiomata). Mr Moir has beeu laboring in all these districts for somo considerable time, with much success- He stated that he hud tho pleasure of ministering to good congregations in moßt of tho placea, and took special notice of the hearty and generous servicos of Mr James Mitchell in facilitating bis visits to Horokiwi, which is more than twenty miles distant. Mr Pateraon took occasion, in connection with these reports, to suggest the propriety of carrying into effect a system of Presbyterial visitations, by means of wbich not only those outlying districts, but every congregation within this province, should be visited periodically by suchdeputationsas mightbe appointed, believing chat not only would the various ministers be tbus encouraged in their work, but that also important evangelistic services might be hold in the several neighborhoods. Tliis suggestion was, after some discussion, embodied in the following motion: — "That thoro bo held a systematic Presbyterial visitation of tho various congregations and outlying district within the bounds, and thatto carry out this object, it be arranged that the congregations in the Wanganui, Rnngitikei, and Manawatu districts be visited in June, and that the Wellington and Wairarapa congregations be visited in January or February." The motion was moved by Mr Pateraon, seconded by Mr Ross, and carriod unanimously. The Presbytery then adjourned, to meet again this day at 10 o'clock. i t